Written Answers

Monday 14 August 2000

Scottish Executive

Car Ownership

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8323 by Sarah Boyack on 12 July 2000, whether it holds any information on the percentage of households which own one or more cars as opposed to those which have regular use of a car; if so, what percentage of households owned one or more cars in each year from 1988 to date and, on the basis of current projections, when the percentage of households owning one or more cars will reach 70%.

Sarah Boyack: The only information held on household car ownership comes from the Scottish Household Survey, which started last year.

  The table below gives the latest information that is available. Because, for some purposes, vans are counted with cars, the table provides figures for vans as well as cars. The table shows separately all the types of ownership recorded by the survey. Each household is counted in the highest relevant category – for example, one with a privately-owned van and a company car would be counted under "privately-owned van".

  


Type of any car or van that is normally available 
for private use by the members of a household 


Percentage of households 




Privately-owned car 


59.4 




Privately-owned van (and no privately-owned car) 


0.3 




Privately-leased car (and no privately-owned 
car or van) 


1.3 




Privately-leased van (and none of the above) 


0.0 




Company car (and none of the above) 


2.0 




Company van (and none of the above) 


0.3 




No car or van is normally available for private 
use by the members of the household 


36.6 




  Source: Scottish Household Survey, 1999 Q1-Q3.

  The Scottish Executive does not have projections of household car ownership in Scotland.

Cashmere Industry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts it has had with whom and when with regard to the Borders cashmere industry and the implications of a possible 100% or more import tariff being imposed by the industry’s main export market, the USA, and what assessment it has made of any effect this will have on the 2,000 industry workers and the current value of the industry’s order book.

Nicol Stephen: Ministers fully recognise the importance of the cashmere industry to the Borders and the potential impact on it of US punitive import tariffs. The Scottish Executive is working closely with Scottish Trade International, the Scotland Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the sector itself to deal with the threat.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that those with diabetes receive annual eye examinations and blood pressure checks.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has produced seven guidelines setting out best practice for the care and treatment of people with diabetes. These guidelines are currently under review. An updated diabetes guideline will be published next year. SIGN is funded by the Scottish Executive.

  Over 90% of GPs in Scotland provide a Chronic Disease Management Programme for diabetes. The requirements for this include the setting up of a register for all patients with diabetes; a call and recall system; education of all newly diagnosed patients, continuing education for diabetics, individual management plan, clinical procedures, professional links, referral policies, record-keeping and clinical audit.

  The Scottish Executive is working to ensure that all health boards put in place a register of patients with diabetes to support the provision of a comprehensive diabetes service. Guidance on registers is due to be issued later this year.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many diabetic amputations were carried out annually in the NHS, broken down by health board, in each year from 1997-98.

Susan Deacon: For the years ending 31 March: 1998-2000, the numbers of amputations involving a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, by health board of treatment, are as follows:

  


Health Board of Treatment 


1997-98 


1998-99 


1999-2000p




Scotland 


531 


633 


556 




Argyll & Clyde 


17 


22 


21 




Ayr & Arran 


24 


44 


51 




Borders 


7 


2 


3 




Dumfries & Galloway 


23 


26 


22 




Fife 


61 


53 


35 




Forth Valley 


36 


39 


44 




Grampian 


44 


58 


65 




Greater Glasgow 


106 


207 


97 




Highland 


34 


36 


36 




Lanarkshire 


48 


46 


51 




Lothian 


87 


47 


78 




Orkney 


1 


1 


1 




Shetland 


2 


1 


0 




Tayside 


40 


47 


52 




Western Isles 


1 


4 


0 




  P Provisional

  Notes:

  Source: SMR01.

  ISD Scotland reference HCIU 2000/1008.

  Data for the year ending 31 March 2000 are provisional. Data completion varies from one health board to another.

  SMR01 includes inpatient and day case discharges from non-obstetric non-psychiatric specialties in NHS hospitals in Scotland.

  Diseases recorded using the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Diabetes defined as ICD10 E10-E14 (Diabetes Mellitus). SMR01 records up to six ICD10 diagnostic codes in each discharge record. The table above is based on the presence of a diabetes mellitus code in any of the diagnostic fields.

  Operations recorded using the Office of Populations Censuses & Surveys 4th Revision Classification of Surgical Operations & Procedures (OPCS4). Amputations defined as OPCS4 X07-X12.1. SMR01 records up to four operations (in the form of four pairs of OPCS4 codes). The table above is based on the presence of an amputation code in any of the four operation fields.

  The same patient may be admitted to hospital several times over the course of a year and will be counted each time. In addition, a patient may undergo more than one operation during a single visit to theatre. The table counts the numbers of operations performed.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB) received a number of tertiary referrals from other health boards, particularly Argyll & Clyde Health and Lanarkshire. This contributed to the excess numbers observed for GGHB for 1997-98 and 1998-99. The reduction in activity for 1999-2000 relates principally to incomplete data for the 1999-2000 financial year in the Glasgow Acute Trusts.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the NHS for the treatment of diabetic blindness in each of the last three years, broken down by health board.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Disabled People

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orange disability badges are currently held by individuals resident within Scotland broken down by local authority.

Sarah Boyack: The details, from the information we have available at 31 March 2000, are as follows:

  


Local Authority 


Number of Orange Badges on issue to individuals 




Aberdeen City Council 


6,792 




Aberdeenshire Council 


7,269 




Angus Council 


3,761 




Argyll & Bute Council 


2,494 




Clackmannanshire Council 


2,291 




Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 


464 




Dumfries & Galloway Council 


6,161 




Dundee City Council 


5,794 




East Ayrshire Council 


1,587 




East Dunbartonshire Council 


3,266 




East Lothian Council 


2,989 




East Renfrewshire Council 


3,129 




City of Edinburgh Council 


11,987 




Falkirk Council 


5,644 




Fife Council 


9,874 




Glasgow City Council 


23,152 




Highland Council 


6,419 




Inverclyde Council 


3,683 




Midlothian Council 


2,770 




Moray Council 


2,587 




North Ayrshire Council 


7,171 




North Lanarkshire Council 


14,356 




Orkney Islands Council 


659 




Perth & Kinross Council 


4,353 




Renfrewshire Council 


6,449 




Scottish Borders Council 


3,576 




Shetland Islands Council 


483 




South Ayrshire Council 


5,128 




South Lanarkshire Council 


11,308 




Stirling Council 


3,031 




West Dunbartonshire Council 


3,427 




West Lothian Council 


5,526 




TOTAL 


177,580

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used when deciding whether a person is to be placed on a methadone programme.

Iain Gray: Prescribing of methadone is only one component of a comprehensive package of counselling, support and rehabilitation aimed at offering help to those with difficulties due to opiate dependence.

  The decision to prescribe methadone as part of a local opiate dependence programme is made on clinical grounds rather than based on a standard set of national criteria.

Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all deaths were in the age groups (a) 65-75 and (b) over 75 in the winter period of 1999-2000, and what are the comparable percentages in other European countries, specifically, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland.

Susan Deacon: The available information is given in the table in my reply today to question S1W-8883. Comparable European data are not readily available.

Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all deaths were in the age groups (a) 65-75 and (b) over 75 in the winter periods of 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Susan Deacon: The following table gives information on deaths registered in Scotland of persons aged between 65 and 75 years and persons aged over 75 years in each winter month over the period January 1995 to March 2000 as a percentage of all deaths registered in that month. Figures for deaths in 2000 are provisional.

  


 


Persons aged between 65 and 75 years 


Persons aged over 75 years 




 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 


1999 


2000 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 


1999 


2000 




January 


28 


27 


25 


26 


24 


24 


51 


55 


57 


54 


58 


59 




February 


27 


28 


27 


27 


24 


25 


53 


52 


53 


54 


59 


54 




March 


28 


27 


26 


26 


25 


25 


52 


52 


53 


55 


55 


54 




December 


28 


27 


27 


26 


24 





53 


53 


53 


55 


57

Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the "Paths for All" initiative.

Sarah Boyack: The Paths for All Partnership was set up by Scottish Natural Heritage with the aim of achieving a significant increase in well-managed access provision close to where people live. An independent evaluation carried out last year of the first three years of the initiative concluded that the Partnership was fulfilling its remit and successfully pursuing its objectives. The Partnership, which has secured core funding for the next three years, is currently developing its strategy for the period 2000-03. I see "Paths for All" playing an important role in the provision of facilities to enable people to exercise the proposed new right of responsible access, particularly around the areas where they live.

Environment

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give the scientific basis for the issue of a licence by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the use of Calicide (Tefluburozuron) on salmon farms to control sea lice.

Sarah Boyack: Calicide is the trade name given to a medicine used to treat sea lice infestations on farmed salmon grown in marine fish cages. The active ingredient in Calicide is teflubenzuron, a chitinase inhibitor which acts by inhibiting the formation of chitin in the exoskeleton of insects and crustacea. It affects the moulting stages of these organisms and therefore is effective in treating sea lice particularly when they are progressing through the various juvenile growth stages.

  It is administered to the fish by coating the fish feed. As the compound is then subsequently discharged to the marine environment via fish faeces or any uneaten food pellets, it constitutes part of the trade effluent discharged from the fish farm premises and must be authorised by a consent if the fish farm operator is to avoid contravening section 30F of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. To obtain a consent, a fish farmer must submit an application to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Calicide is an authorised fish medicine, having been through a rigorous assessment by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate of its general safety (including consumer, environment and operator safety) and its efficacy as a sea lice treatment. The manufacturer is obliged to carry out a full ecotoxicological risk assessment and submit a detailed safety case demonstrating compliance with all aspects before a marketing authorisation is issued. It is this process which is generally referred to when medicines are labelled as being "licensed" or not.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency approached the setting of consent conditions for Calicide according to the recognised method. It is based on risk management, and began with the Agency’s own ecotoxicological risk assessment, using data from both laboratory and field experiments requested from the manufacturers to derive a safe environmental concentration (often referred to as an environmental quality standard). The derivation of the environmental quality standard involved the identification of the most susceptible species through screening a range of marine animals, establishing the concentration of chemical at which there is no observable toxic effect, then applying a further safety factor to achieve the standard. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency then commissioned the Water Research Centre to carry out a peer review of this assessment. The agency accepted changes proposed by the centre.

  The agency then used predictive modelling techniques to estimate the limits which must be imposed on a particular discharge to prevent the environmental quality standard being breached. Restrictions have been placed on the quantity of Calicide which can be used in any particular treatment. The treatment method relies on the concept of a mixing zone (often now referred to as an "allowable zone" of effects) within which it is accepted that standards may be exceeded.

  In this way the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has endeavoured to protect the environment from significant harm and in doing so protect species which are exploited commercially by "capture" fishing techniques. The site-by-site discharge consent complements the Veterinary Medicine Directorate’s general marketing authorisation approach.

Environment

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to curb and investigate the alleged use of unlicensed chemicals on salmon farms to control sea lice.

Sarah Boyack: I view the alleged discharge to the marine environment of chemicals which have not been subject to the assessment procedures of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with considerable concern. The practice is illegal and may pose considerable risk of damage to marine ecosystems.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued warnings to the industry of the dangers to the environment and the likely risk to the industry’s reputation should these allegations be substantiated. It has stated its intention to investigate allegations vigorously and instigate enforcement action where clear evidence of a breach of the legislation exists.

  The agency has investigated several reports of the use of unlicensed chemicals to date. In 1998, following such investigations, a salmon-farming company in Shetland was fined £1,000 at Lerwick Sheriff Court for discharging Deosan Deosect, a compound used to treat horses and poultry. In this case the agency detected residues in mussels growing nearby and established that the chemical had been supplied to the company by a veterinary surgeon. A number of other investigations are ongoing at present.

  The agency has also begun a programme of screening for such residues. This involves its officers visiting fish farm premises unannounced and taking samples of fish from the cages or mussels growing close by for analysis.

Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce further conservation designation orders in Scottish waters for the purpose of protecting freshwater fish.

Sarah Boyack: : I announced a list of new proposed Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) on 14 June ( Official Report , 14 June 2000, question S1W-7913). Among those sites, the following were proposed for the protection of freshwater fish:

  


Berriedale and Langwell Waters 




Grimersta 




Little Gruinard River 




River Bladnoch 




River Dee 




River Moriston 




River Naver and Mallart River 




River Oykel 




River South Esk 




River Teith 




River Thurso 




River Tweed 




  I indicated when I made that announcement that I was open to consideration of scientific evidence about any exceptions to the completeness of the list. I am awaiting further advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on this matter.

  I trust that the proposed SAC designation of some Scottish rivers will be viewed as a positive move, with local interests, including District Salmon Fisheries Boards, working together to manage the sites for their conservation interests - as is happening already on the River Spey.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental benefits, in terms of air quality improvements and reduced greenhouse gas emissions may be expected from the introduction of liquid petroleum gas as a fuel in rural areas and what assessment has been made of the environmental benefit if the budget to support conversion and infrastructure were instead spent on measures in urban areas.

Sarah Boyack: Information on the environmental benefits of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered vehicles is given on page 57 of Alternative Fuels – An Assessment of the Emissions Performance of Alternative and Conventional Fuels published by the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force in January 2000, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. no. 7656). This demonstrates that LPG vehicles will offer most benefits to air quality when they are used in urban areas. However, the climate change benefits that LPG vehicles bring, through reduced carbon dioxide emissions, are the same in rural areas as they are in urban areas.

  The Executive takes a variety of measures in urban areas designed to improve air quality and contribute to climate change objectives. For example, the Public Transport Fund is assisting local authorities to provide alternative choices to car use and tackle problems of congestion. Of the £58 million allocated so far from the first two rounds, over £35 million has been allocated for projects in the four major Scottish cities.

Epilepsy

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise public awareness of epilepsy and issues relating to the condition.

Susan Deacon: The Executive provides grant funding under both section 16B of the NHS (Scotland) Act and section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act to the Epilepsy Association of Scotland, which works very effectively to keep epilepsy issues in the public eye.

Food

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow bread with folic acid added as a supplement to be sold in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The universal fortification with folic acid of all wheat flour, and, therefore, all food products containing flour, including bread, as a measure to prevent neural tube birth defects, is currently the subject of a joint consultation by the UK Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency. The consultation implements the commitment given by the Health Departments earlier this year to seek views, widely, on the conclusions of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) on folic acid fortification matters as set out in their report published in January 2000.

  The outcome of the three month period of consultation, which ends on 31 October, will inform Ministers’ decisions which are expected to be announced in January 2001.

Fuel Costs

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will promote the use of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in the Highlands and Islands and, if so, (a) how it will do this; (b) what assistance it will provide to meet the cost of converting motor vehicles to use LPG; (c) what it estimates the average cost of conversion per vehicle to be; (d) how many car owners it estimates would incur such a cost; (e) how many such car owners it estimates would be below-average earners, and (f) whether policy in this area will address any difficulties faced by people in the Highlands and Islands resulting from the high cost of fuel.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive promotes the use of alternative fuels through its funding of the Energy Savings Trust’s "Powershift" cleaner vehicle fuels programme and is currently reviewing funding for Powershift with particular reference to motorists in the Highlands and Islands. Powershift can provide a grant of up to 75% of the cost of converting a vehicle to LPG, which on average is around £1,500 for a private car. It is estimated that converting from LPG to petrol can save a motorist around £700 per year in fuel costs on an annual mileage of 12,000 miles. In addition the scope of the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme has been extended to include for the installation of tanks and dispensers for the supply of LPG.

Library Facilities

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned a feasibility study into the possibility and desirability of building the People’s Libraries Network on a broadband width system and, if a study has been undertaken, what the study’s findings and recommendations were and which recommendations it intends to implement.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive has commissioned a feasibility study into integrated broadband communications for Scottish schools which will also inform consideration of broadband communications in relation to other educational networks including the Public Library Network.

Marine Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs will make a statement following his recent visit to the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory.

Mr John Home Robertson: My trip to Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory on 14 July represented part of a wider series of visits to fisheries related interests in the Highlands. I was impressed by the quality and range of scientific work that is being undertaken at this NERC funded establishment.

Marine Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations that Scotland’s proportionate share of Natural Environmental Research Council funding should be maintained following the decision to cease funding the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory.

Nicol Stephen: Research Council funds are allocated on the basis of quality, underpinned by peer review, and not by a formula. The decision to disband the CCMS, of which Dunstaffnage represents one part, does not alter that position. We will be liaising closely with the Natural Environmental Research Council on how funding for marine research in Scotland will be delivered following the council’s decision.

  Research Councils and their operations are reserved under the terms of the Scotland Act.

Marine Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the National Environment Research Council or any other authority in connection with the decision to cease funding to the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory and whether it is aware of any other bodies consulted in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The Natural Environmental Research Council has not decided to cease funding Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, but to disband the Centre for Coastal and Marine Science (CCMS). We will be liaising closely with the Natural Environmental Research Council on how funding for marine research in Scotland, including Dunstaffnage, will be delivered following the council’s decision.

  Research Councils and their operations are reserved under the terms of the Scotland Act.

Marine Environment

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to secure funding for the promotion of marine science and research at Dunstaffnage.

Nicol Stephen: The Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory (DML) is the shared responsibility of the Natural Environment Research Council and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. We will be liaising closely with the Natural Environmental Research Council on how funding for marine research in Scotland will be delivered following the council’s decision to disband the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences (CCMS). We expect the role of DML in delivering core strategic and applied marine science for NERC and other customers should continue in different ways involving local and regional collaboration.

  Research Councils and their operations are reserved under the terms of the Scotland Act.

Marine Pollution

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure has been incurred by local authorities on shoreline clean-up operations after incidents of marine pollution in the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Sarah Boyack: The information is not held centrally.

Marine Pollution

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution it has made to the clean-up of shorelines after marine pollution incidents in the last 10 years and how this compares with total costs incurred, both directly and indirectly, as a consequence of such incidents.

Sarah Boyack: : The Scottish Office incurred running costs of £170,533 in responding to the Braer incident in January 1993 but did not make any financial contributions to third parties. The total Government claim in respect of Braer was £3.5 million but this was withdrawn in 1999. No payments in respect of other incidents have been made.

Marine Research

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make any representations to the Natural Environment Research Council in connection with its decision to withdraw funding from the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory.

Nicol Stephen: Consistent with the terms of the Concordat agreed with the Natural Environmental Research Council in 1997, the Executive will continue to liaise with the council on any issues and initiatives of mutual interest. This includes the implementation of the council’s recent decision to disband their Centre for Coastal and Marine Science, of which Dunstaffnage represented a part, and how funding for marine research in Scotland will be delivered by the council in future.

  Research Councils and their operations are reserved under the terms of the Scotland Act.

New Deal

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, of the young people in the Borders who found employment through the New Deal since its introduction, (a) how many are no longer employed, (b) how long did the average employment last and (c) what was the nature of employment.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the young people in the Borders who have found employment through the New Deal since its introduction are still in employment and what the nature of that employment is.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the mean wage is of young people in the Borders who found employment through the New Deal since its introduction.

Nicol Stephen: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.

  This information is not available.

One Parent Families Scotland

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants One Plus and One Parent Families Scotland have received from it under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: One Parent Families Scotland have received the following funding under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968:

  


1997-98 


£32,340 




1998-99 


£32,340 




1999-2000 


£33,310 plus an additional one off allocation of 
£10,300 in August 1999 to meet short-term pressures. 




  The organisation are currently in the first year of a new three-year section 10 grant of £50,000 per annum.

  One Plus are not in receipt of grant funding from the Scottish Executive.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service is intending to make changes to the terms and conditions of employment of serving prison officers and, if so, what are the changes and what is their purpose.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond, his response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service are introducing new employee related policies on:

  Staff attendance patterns, to ensure that staff attend when the business requires it, and to improve efficiency;

  Sickness absence management, to improve consistency and effectiveness, and to reduce overall sickness absence;

  The filling of vacancies, to improve efficiency; and

  Conduct and equal opportunities, to clarify what behaviour is acceptable and what is not, and to guide staff on dealing with unacceptable behaviour from colleagues.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any proposals there are for further private prisons.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service is currently conducting a review of the Estate with a view to meeting operational requirements over the next ten years. This is a fundamental review in which nothing is ruled in and nothing ruled out and a full range of options is being considered. Detailed work on the review is continuing and no formal recommendations have yet been made.

Public Transport

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for a continued bus service between Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead and the surrounding areas in view of the loss of subsidised service contracts.

Sarah Boyack: The provision of public transport between Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead is a matter for individual operators and Argyll and Bute Council as local transport authority.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote the re-opening of the Stirling/Alloa/Dunfermline railway line, and what is the possible timescale for the reopening of (a) its freight service and (b) its passenger service.

Sarah Boyack: I met representatives of Clackmannanshire Council and local MSPs on 6 April 2000 and discussed a range of transport matters, including the Stirling/Alloa/Dunfermline railway line. Railtrack recently submitted an application for a Freight Facilities Grant for the line. This is being appraised. Until the appraisal has been completed, it would be inappropriate to estimate a timescale to reopen the line.

Rail Network

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to link Aberdeen with the Eurostar rail service and whether it would support such plans.

Sarah Boyack: European rail services is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is unaware of any plans for the extension of Eurostar services to Aberdeen.

Rail Network

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to re-open the Kintore railway station in Aberdeenshire and whether it would support such plans.

Sarah Boyack: I understand Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with ScotRail, Railtrack and Aberdeen City Council are investigating various proposals for the enhancement of local passenger rail services between Stonehaven, Aberdeen and Inverurie. Development of these services may include the opening of new railway stations.

  The Scottish Executive has not been approached by the partnership for public funding or any other support.

Road Accidents

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred in the last five years on the Stirling to Lochearnhead stretch of the A84.

Sarah Boyack: The number of personal injury road accidents for each of the last five years which have occurred on the A84 trunk road between Stirling and Lochearnhead are as follows:

  


Year 


Fatal 


Serious 


Slight 


Total 




1995 


1 


7 


16 


24 




1996 


0 


11 


14 


25 




1997 


1 


6 


18 


25 




1998 


6 


18 


21 


45 




1999 


0 


6 


12 


18 




Total 


8 


48 


81 


137

Road Accidents

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred in the last five years on the Lochearnhead to Tyndrum stretch of the A85.

Sarah Boyack: The number of personal injury accidents for each of the last five years which have occurred on the A85 trunk road between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich and the A82 trunk road between Crianlarich and Tyndrum is as follows:

  A85 Lochearnhead to Crianlarich

  


Year 


Fatal 


Serious 


Slight 


Total 




1995 


0 


5 


3 


8 




1996 


0 


8 


6 


14 




1997 


0 


4 


6 


10 




1998 


0 


4 


3 


7 




1999 


0 


1 


4 


5 




Total 


0 


22 


22 


44 




  A82 Crianlarich to Tyndrum

  


Year 


Fatal 


Serious 


Slight 


Total 




1995 


1 


1 


3 


5 




1996 


1 


5 


7 


13 




1997 


0 


3 


1 


4 




1998 


1 


2 


0 


3 




1999 


0 


2 


4 


6 




Total 


3 


13 


15 


31

Road Safety

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication Safer Routes to School in December 1999, how many safer routes to school partnership initiatives have been established throughout Scotland and whether it will list those currently in operation.

Sarah Boyack: The most recent information on the number of Safer Route to School Schemes in Scotland is contained in Review of Safer Routes to School in Scotland published by the Scottish Executive in December 1999. That indicated a total of 89 projects in Scotland. A copy of the report is held by the Parliament Information Centre.

Road Safety

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of accidents was for each of the last five years on the Inverurie to Keith section of the A96.

Sarah Boyack: The number of personal injury accidents for each of the last five years which have occurred on the A96 trunk road between Inverurie and Keith is as follows:

  


Year 


Fatal 


Serious 


Slight 


Total 




1995 


1 


8 


20 


29 




1996 


2 


7 


22 


31 




1997 


0 


12 


26 


38 




1998 


3 


9 


22 


34 




1999 


0 


5 


13 


18 




Total 


6 


41 


103 


150

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred in the last five years on the Stirling to Ballat Cross stretch of the A811.

Sarah Boyack: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage-only accidents.

  The table below gives the numbers of road accidents which were identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the A811 between its junction with the A81 and the centre of Stirling over the period 1995 to 1999 inclusive.

  It should be noted that the statistics given below are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

  


Year 


Injury road accidents which occurred on the A811 
between its junction with the A81 and Stirling 




1995 


17 




1996 


12 




1997 


18 




1998 


21 




1999 


15

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the upgrading of the A92 from Dundee to Arbroath.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware that Angus and Dundee City Councils as the local roads authorities are upgrading this route by means of a Public/Private Partnership project. I understand that prospective bidders for the contract have been invited through the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC) notice of 7 July to take part in a prequalification process which is required under EC regulations. Bidders who apply at this stage will be assessed for their suitability to undertake the project before a short list is compiled and tender documents issued in October.

School Trips

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are currently in place relating to school visits to working farms.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Guidelines detailing the precautions that should be taken when visiting farms and a leaflet for teachers Health Tips for Teachers Leading School Trips to Farms  were issued to Directors of Education for distribution to schools on 28 April 2000.

Shellfish

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of all EU approved laboratories for the testing of algal toxins in shellfish.

Susan Deacon: A list of EU approved laboratories is contained in Commission Decision 1999/312/EC. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), Bib. no. 5378.

Shellfish

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allow shellfish farmers and processors to take their own samples of shellfish to EU approved laboratories for independent testing, in particular from areas which are covered by an emergency closure order.

Susan Deacon: Shellfish farmers and processors can arrange for samples to be analysed at an independent laboratory qualified to undertake algal toxins analysis. However, only samples analysed by the Marine Laboratory on behalf of the Food Standards Agency can be used to fulfil the statutory requirements for monitoring and enforcement purposes.

  In closed areas, the taking of restricted shellfish is prohibited, unless a specific dispensation under the Food and Environment Protection Act is granted.

Skye Bridge

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage, after discounts, of (a) each individual toll and (b) the total amount of toll money collected on the Skye Bridge goes toward repaying the outstanding debts associated with the project.

Sarah Boyack: All of the toll income, including the compensation paid by the Scottish Executive, counts towards the amount that the concessionaire is entitled to collect in return for providing the bridge. The amount is £23.64 million in 1991 prices discounted at 6% per annum. Progress towards this is subject to a commercial confidentiality clause in the Concession Agreement. The details of any debts incurred by Skye Bridge Limited can be obtained from the company’s annual directors report and financial statements which are publicly available at Companies House.

Skye Bridge

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Skye Bridge toll income has been in each year since it opened.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested can be found in Skye Bridge Limited’s annual Directors’ Report and Financial Statements which are publicly available at Companies House.

Skye Bridge

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on Skye Bridge maintenance in each year since it opened.

Sarah Boyack: Maintenance of the bridge is the duty of the concessionaire. Information on operating and maintenance costs can be found in Skye Bridge Limited’s annual Directors’ Report and Financial Statements which are publicly available at Companies House.

Skye Bridge

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what independent structural inspections are carried out on the Skye Bridge annually, other than those conducted by the company itself.

Sarah Boyack: In accordance with UK national standards, a General Inspection of the bridge is made every two years and a Principal Inspection, which is a close examination of all inspectable parts of the structure, will be carried out at intervals not exceeding six years. This work is undertaken for the concessionaire by an independent firm of suitably experienced consulting engineers. The Principal Inspection report is also required to be certified by the bridge designer.

  In addition, superficial inspections are undertaken at quarterly intervals by bridge staff who are required to bring any obvious deficiencies to the attention of the consulting engineers and the Scottish Executive.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for public liability insurance in respect of claims relating to the Skye Bridge.

Sarah Boyack: The concessionaire is responsible for maintaining third party insurance.

State Hospital Carstairs

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the performance of senior management at the State Hospital, Carstairs, in view of the recent Scottish Health Advisory Service report.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve staffing levels at the State Hospital, Carstairs, in the light of the description of the situation in the recent Scottish Health Advisory Service report.

Susan Deacon: The recent Scottish Health Advisory Service (SHAS) report covers the findings of the investigating team that visited the State Hospital in January 2000. The report acknowledges the many significant improvements made within the hospital since SHAS last visited in 1994. Those areas where SHAS pointed to the need for improvement are areas which were also covered by the Mental Welfare Commission in their report of the Inquiry into the care and treatment of Noel Ruddle.

  As I announced when I presented the Mental Welfare Commission Report to Parliament on 30 March, the Chairman of the State Hospitals Board has been asked to establish a programme of change to address the commission’s findings and recommendations, and report to me in September on the progress that has been made.

  I know that when I met with the Mental Welfare Commission on 26 June that they were pleased with the measures taken to date and future plans. If these future plans require additional resources, then that is something which we shall consider.

State Hospital Carstairs

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Conservative): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to create a personality disorder unit within the State Hospital, Carstairs.

Susan Deacon: There are no plans to create a personality disorder unit within the State Hospital. The State Hospital is currently implementing a programme of improvements, which includes expanding the range and availability of treatments for personality disordered patients.

Substance Abuse

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many referrals were made to Children’s Panels in Scotland for each of the last five years on the grounds of volatile substance abuse.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Referrals under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 section 52(2)(k) – "has misused a volatile substance by deliberately inhaling its vapour, other than for medical purposes" and its predecessor, the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 Section 32(2)(gg) were:

  


1995-96 


107 




1996-97 


155 




1997-98 


138 




1998-99 


139 




1999-2000 


77

Substance Abuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the centres where an integrated psychiatric service is available for people with dual diagnosis of substance abuse and mental health problems.

Iain Gray: The care and treatment of people with the dual diagnosis specified is in most areas tackled through close co-operation between substance abuse services and general adult psychiatry services. Substance abuse services are generally an integral part of wider mental health services. Some areas - for example, Ayrshire and Arran – provide units and beds dedicated to the treatment of people with dual diagnosis. The extent to which services are integrated is determined by local need. Health boards, working with NHS Trusts, are responsible for assessing local health needs and for providing services to meet them.

Trade

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken with regard to the implications for the Scottish economy of the dispute between the USA and the European Union over the issue of European banana imports.

Nicol Stephen: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive is working closely with Scottish Trade International, the Scotland Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry to try to avert the imposition of tariffs by the US that would impact adversely on companies in Scotland.

Trade

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4862 by Henry McLeish on 15 March 2000, what assessment it has made of any impact which trade issues arising from the activities of the World Trade Organisation will have on the responsibilities of the Executive.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive regularly assesses the impact of the World Trade Organisation’s activities on its responsibilities working together with Scottish Trade International, the Scotland Office and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Transport

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to ensure that all bridges are assessed to comply with EU regulations with regard to the introduction of higher gross weight lorries.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive regularly receives from the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation representing the 32 local authorities, information on the total number of council owned and privately owned road-carrying bridges to be assessed and strengthened to meet the 40-tonne EC standard.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre the document or documents which set out the remit given to Deloitte & Touche for its study into the issues and options surrounding the development of a Transport Authority for the Highlands and Islands and outline whether that remit includes any instruction to consider (a) the possibility of such a Transport Authority being given the power to buy and sell petrol and diesel, (b) fuel prices in the Highlands and Islands, (c) the total cost to the public sector in the Highlands and Islands of fuel, (d) derogation which would allow a variable duty to be applied to parts of the Highlands and Islands, (e) designation of certain rural petrol stations as essential services, (f) the imposition of price ceilings and (g) the appointment of a regulator to control or influence petrol and diesel prices.

Sarah Boyack: A copy of the tender specification for the Highlands and Islands Transport Authority Study has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The primary purpose of the study is to examine the case for establishing such an authority. While the tender specification identifies "fuel distribution" as a potential function, finalising the role any such authority might play on fuel issues must await a decision on whether or not to establish such a body.

Transport

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2135 by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2000, whether it will consider allocating any of the £17.5 million for bus priority measures which are still under consideration, to other projects such as the Glasgow north/south crossrail scheme.

Sarah Boyack: No; awards have already been made from the Public Transport Fund for projects in Glasgow totalling £17.5 million. Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council were awarded a total of £12.6 million for bus priority measures in the city and the SPTA were awarded a total of £4.9 million for Partick station and train rolling stock improvements. It is a matter for local authorities and the SPTA to determine which projects to bid for and to date neither the City Council nor SPTA have chosen to make a bid for the Glasgow Crossrail project. Local authorities and the SPTA were invited to submit bids to the next round by 7 August 2000.

Water Industry

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much borrowing each water authority (a) currently has in place and (b) is seeking, specifying in each case the repayment period agreed or proposed.

Sarah Boyack: Total borrowing at the end of the last financial year for each of the water authorities was:

  


East of Scotland 


£605.976 million 




West of Scotland 


£714.762 million 




North of Scotland 


£371.473 million 




  Further details relating to the breakdown by lender and period of repayment may be found in the annual accounts of each authority.

  The External Finance Limits have been set for each water authority until 2001-02. These are:

  

 

2000-01 


2001-021




East of Scotland 


66.0 


66.0 




West of Scotland 


81.0 


82.0 




North of Scotland 


55.0 


70.0 




  Notes:

  1. Subject to parliamentary approval.

  Repayment dates for each loan that makes up the External Finance Limit will be agreed when each loan is requested.

Water Industry

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment is proposed by East of Scotland Water to remedy any identified deficiencies in water filtration plants in the constituency of Roxburgh and Berwickshire.

Sarah Boyack: East of Scotland Water will be making significant investment in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire area. Replacement of the filters at Dodburn and the microstrainers and chlorination system at Flex is estimated to cost £6.4 million.

Water Industry

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the chlorine level is in water supplies in the towns of Jedburgh, Kelso, Duns, Eyemouth and Coldstream as a percentage of the maximum permitted chlorine level.

Sarah Boyack: There is no maximum permitted level for chlorine in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The World Health Organisation guideline value for chlorine in drinking water is five milligrammes per litre but most individuals can detect chlorine at concentrations of between 0.6 and 1.0 milligrammes per litre. Levels above this range will begin to cause taste and odour problems. None of the regulatory samples taken by East of Scotland Water during 1999 exceeded the taste and odour standards set in the 1990 Regulations.